On my tour of the campus, I started down the boardwalk where I was hunting for some terrestrial or ground orchids that I saw a few years back, continuing down my path were aquatic plants and birds such as the ibis that I had taken a photo of. There were indeed some ground orchids, but none were in bloom. It was a rainy week but that didnt stop me from entering into the FGCU trail. Tracking through the puddles and mud, were cypress trees, ferns, insects galore, and a snake had even crossed my path.
The campus is built on a lot of wetlands which is definitely eco-sensitive land. Wetlands are important for ground water flow and watershed improvement, and for the natural hydrology for the region. They also offer a unique habitat for biodiversity. At FGCU, this is unique biodiversity is apparent by all the cypress trees, aquatic plants, insects and birds noticed on my tour alone. The walk on campus is nice because it demonstrates this wetland. FGCU's mission is to be consistent with the "eco-empowerment", in which they are to a certain degree. What I've heard is that FGCU was able to build this school on the preserve only under the stipulations that they will be an "uber" eco-friendly, "green" campus. Although they have done a good job on installing solar panels and providing the campus with recycling bins (not to say this is the only two things they have provided to us), they could take it a few more steps further.
I grew up in the woods and appreciating the trees and animals that surrounded our living. Cutting down trees for the land isn't something we ever felt necessary. FGCU continues to build their school on this land and it seems to be a bit contradicting.
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